Freehold Raceway concluded the Vinny Fusco Jr. Memorial Pacing Series this Friday (January 22), with a pair of finals. One saw a logical result, the other an upset.
Tall Poppy N completed a sweep of the second division, for fillies and mares with a TrackMaster Horse Rating between 71.50 and 75.00 at the start of the series. Just like in the first two legs, George Brennan put her on the lead just after the quarter, and set comfortable fractions. In the stretch, she received a stiff challenge from Thaneeya, but Tall Poppy N held her at bay for a half-length win, in 1:56.3. The winner is owned by Curtin Anz Stable and trained by Kelvin Harrison, and paid $4.20 to win.
The Vinny Fusco Jr. Memorial Pacing Series for New Jersey-owned, sired or foaled fillies and mares wraps up at Freehold Raceway on Friday (Jan. 22) with a pair of finals.
The $10,000 final for the first division is for horses with TrackMaster Horse Ratings between 68.00 and 71.50. The winners of the first two legs, Duck N Roll and Southwind Tsunami, drew post positions seven and eight, respectively.
Southwind Tsunami, who races for trainer Mark Capone, upset at 10-1 in the first leg and finished fifth in leg two last week as the favourite. She will have a new driver Friday afternoon: Jim Marohn Jr. After a fourth-place finish in leg one, Duck N Roll won the second leg last week with a strong rally from the back of the pack. She is trained by Izzy Estrada, and will be driven by Luke Hanners.
The second leg of the SBOANJ sponsored Harold Kelly Memorial Pacing Series took place on Saturday (Jan. 16) at Freehold Raceway with six divisions.
Frankandjoanne took the first division for driver Jim Marohn Jr. and trainer Dawn Anderson in 1:59.0. Driver George Brennan teamed with trainer Scott DiDomenico winning the second division with Nothing To Prove. Steve Smith piloted Panters Pinot for trainer Michael Russo to the winner s circle in 1:56.3 to win the third division. The fourth division went to Taste Of History for driver Austin Siegelman and trainer Edwin Quevedo. Siegelman also won the fifth division with I Am The Cowboy for trainer Michael Fiumenero. The last division on the card went to Pirates Alley for driver George Brennan and trainer John Wyatt.
Meladys Monet began his 12-year-old season on a winning note, taking the Preferred Handicap trot at Freehold Raceway on Friday (Jan. 15).
Making his first start since December 11, he was sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the field of eight. In the early stages, he grabbed cover from favoured The Veteran, who left to his direct inside. As soon as The Veteran cleared to the front, just before the opening quarter, Eric Abbatiello took the lead with Meladys Monet.
As they rounded the final turn, Meladys Monet continued to hold sway, but The Veteran loomed menacingly from the pocket. Entering the stretch, Dan Dube ripped The Veteran off the pylons and took his crack at the leader. However, he couldn t get by Meladys Monet, who reported home a half-length in front. The final time was 1:57.3.